Postdoctoral Scholar, University of California, Irvine

UC Irvine Center for Complex Biological Systems seeks 1-2 postdoctoral scholars to study the polygenic basis of congenital heart defects, and the transcriptional identity of heart progenitor cells, in mouse models of mammalian heart development. Positions are fully funded and will be supervised by Professors Anne Calof and Arthur Lander. Research will focus on how multiple small perturbations to gene expression collectively produce heart defects in multi-system birth defects disorders known as transcriptomopathies.

Successful applicants will have a Ph.D. in molecular and/or developmental biology, genetics, or genomics, and evidence of publication and/or preparation of high quality journal article(s). Applicant’s training should provide sufficient preparation to use mouse genetics, embryology, molecular biology, high resolution imaging (including optical projection tomography and MRI), together with genomics (RNA sequencing/bioinformatics), to identify morphogenetic abnormalities (progenitor cell proliferation, patterning and migration) and gene expression changes. Single-cell RNA sequencing of early embryos will be used to identify transcriptional changes in individual progenitor cells. Salary level negotiable; will depend upon the candidate’s experience. Appointments are for one year with potential for extension dependent upon performance and funding.